4 killed, 10 wounded in Afghanistan last week

Kabul (Pajhwok): Last week, two journlaists, including a Pajhwok Afghan News journalist, were wounded as a result of clashes at Torkham crossing in eastern Nangarhar provinee.

Also last week, OCHA, Japan, and Denmark allocated over 62 million US dollars in humanitatiran aid for Afghanistan.

Last week’s key events

• Clashes at Torkham cause casualties
• Kabul Airport attack mastermind arrested: Trump
• Arrest proves Daesh hideouts in Pakistan: Fitrat
• Discussions expected on extending UNAMA mission
• IEA claims UNAMA’s mission in Afghanistan effective
• Acting Minister of Refugee and Repatriation Maulvi Abdul Kabir has urged host countries to implement a systemic mechanism for return of Afghan refugees instead of forced deportations.
• OCHA, Japan, and Denmark allocated over $62 million in aid for Afghanistan.

Casualties:

Last week, four people were killed, and ten others were injured in various incidents across Afghanistan.

Afghan officials reported that in Nangarhar’s Momand Dara district, clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces occurred twice in Torkham. On Monday, the Ministry of Interior spokesperson stated, “In this clash, one Mujahid was martyred, and two others were injured.”

Additionally, the Nangarhar provincial media office reported that on Wednesday, eight people, including two journalists, were injured in gunfire from Pakistani forces.

Reports also indicate that unidentified gunmen shot and killed a 15-year-old boy named Salman in Kapisa, while a family dispute in Bamyan led to the death of one person. Furthermore, a leftover hand grenade explosion in Jawzjan resulted in one fatality.

Note: These casualty figures are based on Pajhwok Afghan News reports. There is a possibility that some incidents may have gone unreported or sources could have provided wrong figures.

During the previous week, 16 people had been killed and six others injured in different incidents nationwide.

The week before, two people were killed, and one was injured in various incidents across Afghanistan.

Clashes between Afghan and Pakistani Forces in Torkham

For the past 16 days, Pakistan has kept the Torkham border closed, causing difficulties for patients, travelers, and traders on both sides.

Afghan officials said last Monday, Pakistani forces attacked Afghan forces, prompting them to retaliate. Intermittent clashes have continued in the area since then.

Security officials confirmed that one Mujahid was martyred, and ten people, including two journalists, were injured in Pakistani gunfire. They also claimed that Pakistani forces suffered casualties.

Additionally, authorities reported that around 800 families have been displaced from the Torkham region.

Arrest of Kabul airport attack perpetrator and IEA’s response

Last week, US President Donald Trump, in a speech to members of the US House of Representatives and Senate, claimed that the main perpetrator of the 2021 Kabul Airport attack had been arrested.

He thanked the Pakistani government for assisting in the arrest but did not provide further details.

However, IEA deputy spokesperson Mullah Hamdullah Fitrat stated in an audio message, “This was an incident related to Daesh. At that time, Daesh carried out the attack. The fact that an individual linked to this attack was arrested in Pakistan confirms that Daesh has hideouts and training centers in that country.”

He added that the arrest proves that Daesh no longer has a presence in Afghanistan.

According to reports, on the 4th of Sunbula 1400 (August 26, 2021), a suicide bombing at the Kabul Airport gate killed approximately 170 people, including 13 US soldiers, and injured over 150 others. Daesh later claimed responsibility for the attack.

Extension of UNAMA’s mission and IEA’s reaction

Reports indicate that the UN Security Council will hold a meeting on Afghanistan on March 17, where discussions may include the possible extension of UNAMA’s mission.

However, IEA spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid stated that UNAMA’s mission in Afghanistan has not been effective and accused the organization of presenting negative reports about the country.

He said, “UNAMA has provided negative reports about Afghanistan. Unfortunately, the inaccurate perceptions about Afghanistan within the United Nations have been shaped based on false and misleading information from them.”

Mujahid further added, “UNAMA has not focused on Afghanistan’s progress, achievements, security, and stability. Instead, it has always tried to highlight negative aspects, exaggerate minor issues, and depict Afghanistan as an insecure and problematic country.”

He asserted that UNAMA’s reports have not benefited either Afghanistan or the United Nations.

Afghan Refugees

Last week, Acting Minister of Refugee and Repatraition Maulvi Abdul Kabir separately met Iranian ambassador Alireza Bigdeli and the Pakistani ambassador Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani in Kabul.

He urged host countries to implement a systemic mechanism for return of Afghan refugees instead of forced deportations.

He described Iran and Pakistan as Afghanistan’s Muslim neighbors with many shared values, having hosted millions of Afghan refugees for years. He thanked them for their hospitality and urged them to treat Afghan refugees with patience and compassion.

Maulvi Abdul Kabir said, “Recently, mistreatment of Afghan refugees in Pakistan and Iran has increased. We urge host countries to adhere to international refugee principles and treat Afghans humanely and according to Islamic values.”

Meanwhile, last week, 59 Afghans who had been detained in various parts of Pakistan for lacking legal documents were released from prisons and returned to Afghanistan.

Continued humanitarian aid

Last week, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced that $48.5 million had been allocated for emergency humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan.

Additionally, Japan pledged $7 million in aid, while Denmark allocated $6.9 million for Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned about the consequences of budget cuts, stating, “In Afghanistan, more than nine million people may lose access to healthcare and protection services as hundreds of mobile health teams and other essential programs could be suspended.”

Moreover, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that an estimated 22.9 million people, including 12 million children, will require humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan in 2025.

Last week, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also stated in a press conference that Germany would continue providing humanitarian and other forms of assistance to Afghans as much as possible.

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